obeyed, no doubt, for such a master as James West gets himself obeyed, whether with good or ill will. But behind backs what complaints were made, what recriminations were exchanged! All this, I feared, was of evil presage for the future.
Martin Holt had been able to resume his duties very soon, and he fulfilled them with hearty good-will. He knew the business of a sailor right well, and was the only man on board who could compete with Hunt in handiness and zeal.
"Well, Holt," said I to him one day when he was talking with the boatswain, "what terms are you on with that queer fellow Hunt now? Since the salvage affair, is he a little more communicative?"
"No, Mr. Jeorling, and I think he even tries to avoid me."
"To avoid you?"
"Well, he did so before, for that matter."
"Yes, indeed, that is true," added Hurliguerly; "I have made the same remark more than once."
"Then he keeps aloof from you. Holt, as from the others?"
"From me more than from the others."
"What is the meaning of that?"
"I don't know, Mr. Jeorling."
I was surprised at what the two men had said, but a little observation convinced me that Hunt actually did avoid every occasion of coming in contact with Martin Holt. Did he not think that he had a right to Holt's gratitude although the latter owed his life to him? This man's conduct was certainly very strange.
In the early morning of the 9th the wind showed a
